Is ScribbleHub a good platform for slower, character-driven xianxia?

[Ezra_Rynn]

Hello readers and writers!

I'm writing a xianxia-inspired webnovel series that's a bit different from the usual style. It's slower-paced, more introspective and focuses heavily on character development and internal conflict, rather than fast cultivation progress or systems. Here is a small excerpt:

In the moon’s light, the pond clucked with the whispers of the older brother’s laughter. The wooden bridge bore echoes of his sure gait. Once, the chestnut trees here had borne witness to a quiet mirth, to jests shared between mirrored smiles and light, unburdened breaths.

But the boy who now stood by the river was not gege. And the ashen one knew that he had to walk to him, take his name in his mouth with forbearance, with lenience, with the tender lilt sculpted for a paper-thin spirit.

Him. The younger brother Yin. The downfall of the late Ming-zongzhu.

The ignorant, unfortunate murderer of his own older brother.

I love the genre, but I'm more interested in the emotional and philosophical side of it. The novel touches on themes like grief and loss, the mythological divide between life and death, societal judgment, clan politics, ect. My prose leans more literary than light novels and it's definitely not a power fantasy.

I have been posting regularly on SH (but only for two months!) and am wondering:

- Have any of you had success finding readers for slower or more “literary” stories here?
- Is there a reader base for this kind of xianxia, or would another platform be a better fit? Perhaps the webnovel format itself isn't suitable for this kind of story?
- Any tips for visibility? I know regular updates and good blurbs help, but I’d love to hear from people with experience in more niche storytelling. From what I've read in past forum posts, I've learned that it can be harder to attract a reader base if the novel doesn't include many of the more popular tropes.

I’m not looking to mass-promote, just want to learn from others who've walked a similar path.

Thanks in advance, let me hear if I should adjust my strategy or keep going!

 

[Tsuru]

It depends
-First : Is there smut ? Its biggest shortcut for SH
-Royalroad is another website but like very toxic against newbies
-Plz dont do the "Welcome to this big fantastic world" in a Tolkien way. Or the "MC:IM VERY EVIL" with edgy picture, bs.
Both are played to the death. And each time i see them, i wonder if the authors are dumb, or clueless we are in 2025 and not in 2010 where there is lack of "entertainment" and this stuff was fine. Like did they live under a rock or what ? (it can happen as some people play minecraft for decades)
> Or maybe they simply despise the "spoil everything" meta from JP/CN/KR
I mean sure. Its cringe. Sometimes.
But thing is, there is a reason to WHY its meta and everyone does in raw websites.
Bc people take like 5s to look cover->title->summary-> Skip
-Cover/Title/Summary is like 99% of what attract readers. Quality is what KEEPS them. Bait and hook fishing.

- Big important thing.
Dont give up.
There are multiple idiots that "give up" after like 12 chaps.
But they dont know that MOST readers try a series after it get 50+ chapters (both west/east readers).
Because they are TIRED of so many axed/dropped series. Which ironically is what they do but voluntarily, which is worse.


TLDR : Seriously, go read some raw CNs xianxias before attempting.
Its like indies being players = the reason why they succeed and why AAA games fail (they arent gamers)

 

[Placeholder]

Start en media res.

Modern readers do not need prologues and probably do not benefit from exposition heavy first chapters where the protagonist experiences one of the standard fantasy openings such as exile or enrollment. This is more important in a web serial than a printed book or movie, where the reader is along for the ride.

I posit there is no reason not to have some action or drama in your first chapter.

I skimmed your prologue and first chapter, approaching from an aggressively cynical stance and reading 5-10% of text for scent and mouthfeel, and I got dull prologue vibes and some pontificator-lecturing in chapter 1. The protagonist didn't appear to struggle or strive in ch 1. ... Why should a jaundiced world-weary genre savy reader care.

Consider a car/riage chase with explosions or a pov hiding in a crate or such. Attempted drowning or poisoning? ?

---

Imagine you wanted to make straycatstrut's opening dull: you'd bolt on a prefix chapter describing how that world came about, and then a chapter 1 with lecturing and zero conflict, combat-wise or otherwise.

---

There's a writing advice something-something about chopping the first paragraph in journalism or fiction. I'll edit it in to look wise if it comes to me.

 

[Forcalor]

Oh, I vibe with that style of narrative. Love it! Should read up on it, thanks!

Not sure that it's good for fanfiction though, but you should first and foremost pursue what you're passionate about, not others. Can't offer a lot of insight on the matter since for me it's more about expression, self-development, journey of the characters, and similar things, but such is the way, I guess.

 

[Ezra_Rynn]

There are multiple idiots that "give up" after like 12 chaps.
But they dont know that MOST readers try a series after it get 50+ chapters (both west/east readers).
Because they are TIRED of so many axed/dropped series. Which ironically is what they do but voluntarily, which is worse.


TLDR : Seriously, go read some raw CNs xianxias before attempting.

See, this is useful to know. Right now I am calibrating my expectations and figuring out the strategy. Everyone talks about consistency, but getting a more in-depth idea of how the reader base(s) work is so useful. Thank you! What's raw CNs xianxias though? That's a new term to me.

Start en media res.

Modern readers do not need prologues and probably do not benefit from exposition heavy first chapters where the protagonist experiences one of the standard fantasy openings such as exile or enrollment. This is more important in a web serial than a printed book or movie, where the reader is along for the ride.

I posit there is no reason not to have some action or drama in your first chapter.

I skimmed your prologue and first chapter, approaching from an aggressively cynical stance and reading 5-10% of text for scent and mouthfeel, and I got dull prologue vibes and some pontificator-lecturing in chapter 1. The protagonist didn't appear to struggle or strive in ch 1. ... Why should a jaundiced world-weary genre savy reader care.

Consider a car/riage chase with explosions or a pov hiding in a crate or such. Attempted drowning or poisoning? ?

---

Imagine you wanted to make straycatstrut's opening dull: you'd bolt on a prefix chapter describing how that world came about, and then a chapter 1 with lecturing and zero conflict, combat-wise or otherwise.

---

There's a writing advice something-something about chopping the first paragraph in journalism or fiction. I'll edit it in to look wise if it comes to me.

Useful feedback. Appreciated and noted down. I've been very on the fence about the prologue and first chapter as well, and it's most likely to be edited (when I can carve out the time). I guess I went with the kind of slower opening I appreciate myself, but I am fully on board with it possibly being too slow for the majority of readers.

That said, it didn't address the (other) questions I had. I'll be looking into reader feedback and edit accordingly at some point, but right now I'm more trying to figure out the right platform and exposure tips for webnovels outside the most popular tropes.

Oh, I vibe with that style of narrative. Love it! Should read up on it, thanks!

Not sure that it's good for fanfiction though, but you should first and foremost pursue what you're passionate about, not others. Can't offer a lot of insight on the matter since for me it's more about expression, self-development, journey of the characters, and similar things, but such is the way, I guess.

If it works for you, I'm glad! While this is definitely a passion project and I lean heavily into my own idiosyncratic preferences when I write, it's also an interesting challenge to find a compromise between what I love and what readers want to see.

 

[Forcalor]

it's also an interesting challenge to find a compromise between what I love and what readers want to see.

Well said! Can't agree more.

 

[Corty]

Taking a look at it, I think you can work with this well.

Xianxia can work out here, it's coming from personal experience. Also, most stories start to pick up readers past the 50-70 chapter mark.

Many don't start clicking until there is enough chapter to give it a binge-reading session.

My only advice would be to give every chapter a sub-title. Like : Chapter 1 - Journey, etc, etc. Something. It generates more clicks.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Pros, cons, & audiences of every writing/webnovel site[a continual discussion]

I want to produce a helpful comprehensive list of all the writing/webnovel/publishing sites and what each provide so I come asking for your knowledge. What are some of the pros, cons, audiences, popular genres, unpopular genres, communities, and scandals or unethical business practices that each...

forum.scribblehub.com

 

[Tsuru]

See, this is useful to know. Right now I am calibrating my expectations and figuring out the strategy. Everyone talks about consistency, but getting a more in-depth idea of how the reader base(s) work is so useful. Thank you! What's raw CNs xianxias though? That's a new term to me.

Useful feedback. Appreciated and noted down. I've been very on the fence about the prologue and first chapter as well, and it's most likely to be edited (when I can carve out the time). I guess I went with the kind of slower opening I appreciate myself, but I am fully on board with it possibly being too slow for the majority of readers.

That said, it didn't address the (other) questions I had. I'll be looking into reader feedback and edit accordingly at some point, but right now I'm more trying to figure out the right platform and exposure tips for webnovels outside the most popular tropes.

If it works for you, I'm glad! While this is definitely a passion project and I lean heavily into my own idiosyncratic preferences when I write, it's also an interesting challenge to find a compromise between what I love and what readers want to see.

Raw = Untranslated.
CN = Chinese novel
Xianxia = Xianxia

 

[Aurimaz]

Royalroad is another website but like very toxic against newbies

I'm a newbie writer on RR, and I'm having a very nice experience over there.
On the other hand, I find people here very short-tempered for some reason. I think it depends on personality and how you deal with others.

 

[Tsuru]

I'm a newbie writer on RR, and I'm having a very nice experience over there.
On the other hand, I find people here very short-tempered for some reason. I think it depends on personality and how you deal with others.

^Basically this.

As long you have the skills to back it up, its fine.
But there is the risk of getting short-temper people.
And also they got a big hate for anime-stuff. The "get out" treatment.

 

[Aurimaz]

Thanks in advance, let me hear if I should adjust my strategy or keep going!

If the writer knows what he's doing, slow or fast pacing is irrelevant. I've read many slow-paced stories that were very good. I'm reading one right now. Slow or fast isn't the indicator of quality. I'd care more about constant pacing, memorable characters, a good plot, and the storytelling style. Especially the last one. Most writers don't have one and they don't give a damn about developing one.
Also, very few of them respect their readers by giving us a mess of a text.
Get rid of these flaws and you're golden.

Teasers (or blurbs, as you say), I often see them unnecessarily long. Their purpose is to 'hook' a potential reader before they go into a coma, reading your teaser. In my long practice, I noticed that shorter and more vague teasers are better. Three to five sentences max. If you need them to be longer no matter what, that indicates a serious problem - you didn't figure out the plot. Or you don't know how to end your novel. Or you don't know what the main idea of your novel is.

The first chapter of your novel matters A LOT. And I'm kind of flabbergasted how many authors write it off as something insignificant. When I ask them about it, they just offer me to read further, and 'I'll be hooked in 5-8 chapters'. That's not only stupid, but also very disrespectful to your readers and to yourself, as a writer.

 

[Ezra_Rynn]

Raw = Untranslated.
CN = Chinese novel
Xianxia = Xianxia

Got it!

Taking a look at it, I think you can work with this well.

Xianxia can work out here, it's coming from personal experience. Also, most stories start to pick up readers past the 50-70 chapter mark.

Many don't start clicking until there is enough chapter to give it a binge-reading session.

My only advice would be to give every chapter a sub-title. Like : Chapter 1 - Journey, etc, etc. Something. It generates more clicks.

Titles for chapters! Got it!

Pros, cons, & audiences of every writing/webnovel site[a continual discussion]

I want to produce a helpful comprehensive list of all the writing/webnovel/publishing sites and what each provide so I come asking for your knowledge. What are some of the pros, cons, audiences, popular genres, unpopular genres, communities, and scandals or unethical business practices that each...

forum.scribblehub.com

This seems exactly like what I hoped to find. Thanks for leaving this here!

I'm a newbie writer on RR, and I'm having a very nice experience over there.
On the other hand, I find people here very short-tempered for some reason. I think it depends on personality and how you deal with others.

I reckon it depends on what groups of platform users happen to notice and engage with you as well. I haven't engaged much with writing communities, but I expect all online spaces have their dose of toxicity and that's just something to deal with. But I'm curious to know if the reader base on SH is all that different from RR when it concerns genre and trope preferences? I was recommended SH above RR because I don't write power fantasy, but there seems to be an overlap either way.

If the writer knows what he's doing, slow or fast pacing is irrelevant. I've read many slow-paced stories that were very good. I'm reading one right now. Slow or fast isn't the indicator of quality. I'd care more about constant pacing, memorable characters, a good plot, and the storytelling style. Especially the last one. Most writers don't have one and they don't give a damn about developing one.
Also, very few of them respect their readers by giving us a mess of a text.
Get rid of these flaws and you're golden.

Teasers (or blurbs, as you say), I often see them unnecessarily long. Their purpose is to 'hook' a potential reader before they go into a coma, reading your teaser. In my long practice, I noticed that shorter and more vague teasers are better. Three to five sentences max. If you need them to be longer no matter what, that indicates a serious problem - you didn't figure out the plot. Or you don't know how to end your novel. Or you don't know what the main idea of your novel is.

The first chapter of your novel matters A LOT. And I'm kind of flabbergasted how many authors write it off as something insignificant. When I ask them about it, they just offer me to read further, and 'I'll be hooked in 5-8 chapters'. That's not only stupid, but also very disrespectful to your readers and to yourself, as a writer.

I'm filing the latter part as something to give more attention to and potentially rework as I go. As another commenter pointed out, the first chapters aren't providing as strong a hook as they should.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

The first chapter of your novel matters A LOT. And I'm kind of flabbergasted how many authors write it off as something insignificant. When I ask them about it, they just offer me to read further, and 'I'll be hooked in 5-8 chapters'. That's not only stupid, but also very disrespectful to your readers and to yourself, as a writer.

IME (on both sides of the equation as a writer, and as a consumer of television) you have a 1/3 rule. If you do not drive your audience away in the first chapter/episode/issue/installment (the "1" part), then you have two more (the "3" part) to hook them. But they will decide by the third episode whether they want to continue or not.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

This seems exactly like what I hoped to find. Thanks for leaving this here!

No problem! I made it for this exact purpose.

 

[Deleted member 128077]

-Royalroad is another website but like very toxic against newbies

When I started on RR, I never ran into any toxicity. The people there where very nice, and still are, but that's just my experience

Both are played to the death. And each time i see them, i wonder if the authors are dumb, or clueless we are in 2025

There is not a single story on this earth that is not 'played to death.' Every story is a rehash of another story. What's important isn't being original, per say, but in how you execute your idea.